From Curiosity to Conservation: How a Green Jobs Placement Helped Will Peabody Take the Next Step

William Peabody has always been drawn to the natural world. As a child, he spent hours watching nature documentaries with his grandfather—an experience that sparked a lasting interest in animals and ecosystems. 

That early curiosity shaped his path forward. Will went on to study biology at Mount Allison University and now hopes to pursue a Master’s degree, with the long-term goal of working in biology research and conservation. 

Like many recent graduates, however, he found that moving from education into meaningful work was not straightforward. 

“It’s hard to get a job that’s related to your degree after you graduate,” he said. “Every job around here required at least one year of experience.” 

For months, the closest work Will could find related to his interests was at a pet store. While it kept him connected to animals, it wasn’t the conservation work he had trained for or wanted to pursue long term. 

That changed when Will joined the Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance (PWA) through the CPRA Green Jobs Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) program. 

Based in Moncton, PWA is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the Petitcodiac watershed through water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, species-at-risk conservation, and community outreach. Like many environmental non-profits, its ability to carry out this work depends heavily on seasonal funding and additional capacity during the summer months. 

“We’re a non-profit organization, and it’s nearly impossible to execute everything we need to do during the summer without project assistance,” said Luana Cemin, Project Manager with PWA. “We were incredibly grateful to receive the Green Jobs funding, because it allowed us to move important conservation projects forward.” 

When Will applied for the Green Jobs–funded project assistant position, his dedication and initiative stood out immediately. 

“The day before his interview, Will came to our AGM to learn more about the organization and our projects,” Cemin said. “It showed how interested he was and how seriously he took the opportunity.” 

During his placement, Will supported hands-on conservation work across the watershed. His work included freshwater mussel identification—an important project focused on protecting a species at risk in the area—as well as water quality monitoring, habitat and bank restoration, and public outreach activities. 

For Will, the role provided something he had been missing since graduating: the chance to apply his academic training in a professional setting. 

“This was the first time I got to do this kind of work in a professional setting,” he said. “It was really nice getting to apply what I learned in university in the field.” 

More importantly, the experience confirmed what he had known since childhood—that working directly in conservation was exactly where he wanted to be. 

“Getting to go into the field and collect data on stuff that I find important—that’s what I want to spend my life doing.” 

Beyond the fieldwork, the position allowed Will to continue developing skills central to conservation work. He strengthened his experience with data collection, analysis, report writing, and funding-related tasks, building confidence through consistent, hands-on practice. 

“Doing the work regularly helped me feel more confident in my abilities,” he said. “It made everything feel more connected.” 

That steady development led to something lasting. 

“In December, Will was promoted to project leader, and he’s still with us,” Cemin said. “He showed the commitment and growth we look for, and he continues to build on that.” 

Mentorship played an important role in Will’s experience. Working closely with Cemin allowed him to learn from someone with extensive experience in watershed conservation and project management. 

“Luana has so much experience in this field,” Will said. “I always felt comfortable asking questions, and I learned a lot from working alongside her.” 

For PWA, the Green Jobs Initiative created benefits that extended beyond added capacity. While the funding helped advance critical conservation work, it also brought new perspectives and ideas into the organization. 

“When you bring in someone fresh from university, there’s a real exchange,” Cemin said. “They’re learning from us, but we’re also learning from them.” 

As Will looks ahead to graduate studies and a future in conservation, he sees the Green Jobs placement as a pivotal step—one that helped bridge the gap between academic training and meaningful, sustained employment in the field. 

For youth considering applying for a Green Jobs–funded role, Will said the opportunity offers something that can be hard to find. 

“It’s a great opportunity to get experience in the field you want to work in,” he said, adding that it can really clarify direction. 

For Will, that step led not only to his first conservation role, but to continued leadership within an organization protecting the watershed he now helps steward—and to a future shaped by the curiosity that started it all.